PHILADELPHIA, May 1, 2019 - Cozen O'Connor is pleased to recognize 27 attorneys with the promotion to member: Dylan Alper, Philip J. Berens, Alison Weintraub Berson, Evan Berquist, Alexandra Campau, Alissa K. Christopher, Matthew D. Clyde, Rachel Collins Clarke, Michael A. Corgan, Matthew L. Elkin, Nicole M. Ellis, Alex H. Hayden, David S. Huard, Haryle Kaldis, David Kirchblum, Matthew Evan Lewitz, Jesse Ryan Loffler, Samantha L. Mazo, Lindsey A. Miller, Jeffrey M. Monhait, Jonathan Nase, Jacqueline Promislo, Shelby K. Riney, Kelly Shinn, Terri A. Sutton, Daniel P. Thiel, and Laura Zulick.
“It is really exciting for Cozen O'Connor to see so many talented attorneys continue to rise through the ranks of the firm,” said Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Heller. “This is a group of terrific lawyers and people and they will do a wonderful job representing Cozen O’Connor.”
Alper concentrates his practice in matters involving commercial and residential construction and property disputes, catastrophic casualty claims, products liability, premises liability, transportation & logistics, insurance, and other complex torts and business disputes. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Washington University in St. Louis and earned his law degree, cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law.
Berens is a member of the Subrogation & Recovery Department and has a great deal of litigation experience, handling many cases from inception through conclusion. He has conducted jury trials and completed an intensive trial advocacy program that was certified by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Berens earned his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and received his bachelor's degree in political science from Michigan State University.
Berson is a member in the firm’s New York office, where she focuses her practice on Commercial Litigation. She has represented corporations, schools, municipalities, and liability insurers in various diverse claims. Berson earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her law degree, cum laude, from St. John’s University.
Berquist is a business lawyer advising clients on a wide range of transactional matters. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters working with entrepreneurs, investors, and company management on all aspects of a company’s life cycle, including entity formation, financings, governance, and commercial transactions.
Campau focuses her practice on federal health care issues, working with clients to help them understand current regulatory and legislative developments in the health care space and advocating on their behalf to help shape policy and ensure their perspectives are heard and understood. She recently returned to the firm after serving in the White House as special assistant to the president for health policy. She earned her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Tufts University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Master of Public Policy from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy.
Christopher represents and advises insurance companies in complex coverage and extracontractual first- and third-party matters in addition to working on insurance coverage litigation. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Texas A&M University and her law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
Clyde has broad experience with employee benefit matters in corporate acquisitions, dispositions, and mergers; employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs); ERISA fiduciary duties and prohibited transactions; tax, Affordable Care Act and ERISA concerns for employee health and welfare benefit plans; and executive compensation matters.
Collins Clark focuses her practice on criminal defense and internal investigations. She has defended clients in complex litigation, including commercial litigation, white collar defense, and government investigations. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary.
Corgan advises high net worth individuals on trust and estate matters, including issues relating to income, gift, estate, GST, inheritance and realty transfer taxes. He earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Ellis' practice encompasses all areas of transactional real estate and focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, sales, and office, industrial, and retail leasing. She graduated cum laude from Temple University with a bachelor's degree and earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Elkin focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including securities, accountants' liability, financial services, intellectual property, and contract and business torts. He also represents public companies, broker-dealers, directors and officers, and other individuals in connection with investigations and enforcement actions brought by the SEC, FINRA, Department of Justice, and New York Attorney General’s Office. He is a cum laude graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Hayden represents clients in complex commercial and insurance matters. His representations include stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) transactions, coverage disputes, and the overpayment and assignment of structured settlements. Hayden earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, his MBA from Drexel University LeBow College of Business, and his law degree from Drexel University School of Law.
Huard practice focuses on commercial litigation with an emphasis on subrogation. As part of his practice, he is also involved with the entire litigation process from start to finish including the drafting of legal proceedings, all aspects of the discovery process, motions, mediations, pre-trials, settlement negotiation, trials and appeals, if necessary. Huard attended law school and business school through a dual program at Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec where he received a Civil Law degree (LL.B) and a Master in Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 2008. Through an exchange program, Huard also attended Queen's University where he received a Common Law degree (J.D.) in 2009.
Kaldis is an experienced commercial litigator who has successfully represented clients in a wide range of complex disputes and investigations, including significant antitrust and class action matters. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from George Washington University. Kaldis also spent three years in the U.S. Army, serving as a paratrooper and infantry squad leader.
Kirchblum represents public and private companies, general partners, private investment funds and financial institutions in a wide range of corporate transactions, including leveraged, asset-based and structured financings, mergers and acquisitions, and fund formations, as well as advises on general corporate governance issues, including formation, regulatory, and compliance matters. Kirchblum earned his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and his law degree from Boston College Law School.
Lewitz is an experienced litigator, representing clients in state and federal business litigation matters. His focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including financial services and securities fraud litigation, contract disputes and actions involving business torts. He graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.
Loffler focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation including matters relating to securities law, shareholder litigation, contract, governmental investigations, insurance, real estate, bankruptcy and employment disputes. He earned his undergraduate degree in Government from Harvard University, and earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Mazo has more than a decade of zoning experience in representing clients in all aspects of the development life cycle. Mazo earned her J.D., cum laude, from George Washington University Law School, her master’s degree in modern history from Oxford University and her undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
Miller's practice focuses on a variety of commercial real estate transactions, with a particular emphasis on financing. She has represented nationally recognized banks, real estate investment trusts, and real estate funds. Miller received her bachelor's degree from Emory University and earned her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, cum laude, with a concentration in commercial law.
Monhait joined the firm's Commercial Litigation Group in 2012. He was a summer associate with Cozen O'Connor in 2011. Monhait graduated from Harvard Law School\ cum laude and he graduated from Haverford College with a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in psychology.
Nase has extensive experience in corporate, public utility, environmental, and real estate law. He has more than 30 years of experience practicing law in both the public and private sectors. Nase earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from American University.
Promislo focuses her practice on commercial litigation, products liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, employment discrimination, mass tort litigation, and breach of contract actions. She earned her law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School.
Riney is a skilled litigator who focuses her practice on products liability prevention and defense, as well as commercial litigation matters. She has significant experience defending pharmaceutical and medical device clients in complex litigation and at trial, and product manufacturers in consumer fraud class actions. Riney earned her law degree, with distinction, from University of Iowa College of Law.
Shinn is experienced in representing owners, buyers/sellers, tenants, and lenders in a wide variety of real estate transactions, including ground-up developments, sale-leasebacks, refinances and workouts, commercial and office leasing, and creation and operation of commercial condominiums and subcondominiums. She earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Sutton has a wide range of experience advising clients on insurance coverage issues related to claims under general liability, professional liability, errors and omissions, and excess/umbrella policies. She earned her law degree, summa cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law.
Thiel is a litigator with broad experience that cuts across multiple practice areas and industries. He primarily represents insurers in coverage actions involving stranger-originated life insurance policies (STOLI), as well as clients involved in software licensing disputes. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Zulick represents life insurance and annuity companies in insurance litigation matters across the country. She has successfully litigated a wide range of cases in federal and state courts concerning death claims, policy lapses, payee and beneficiary disputes, unclaimed property, 1035 exchanges, suitability issues, agent/producer liability, and bad faith claims. She earned her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law, Camden.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has approximately 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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